POLYCHAETE WORMS, PART 1 11 



segment with 2 pairs of tentacular cirri, with or without setae. Para- 

 podia biramous, with or without filiform dorsal cirri on segments 

 bearing no elytra, with short subulate ventral cirri. Pygidium usu- 

 ally with a pair of anal cirri. Eversible muscular pharynx, with soft 

 sensory papillae around opening and usually with 2 pairs of chiti- 

 nous jaws (rudimentary in Aphroditidae, fig. 3c). Carnivorous. 



Included are the families Aphroditidae, Polynoidae, and Sigalioni- 

 dae (see the key to the families, p. 8), sometimes considered sub- 

 families of the family Aphroditidae. 



Family Aphroditidae 



Body relatively short and broad, oval or spindle shaped. Seg- 

 ments few in number (less than 60). Elytra 15 to 20 pairs, large, 

 overlapping. With dorsal cirri on segments without elytra. Noto- 

 setae consisting of capillary setae which may extend dorsally, forming 

 a feltage (feltage composed of the fine capillary setae combined with 

 mucus, mud, sand, and debris) and large, brownish protective spines 

 Ventral surface and parapodia covered with globular papillae. Fu'st 

 or tentacular segment with numerous setae. Prostomium spherical, 

 usually with median antenna only. Facial tubercle well developed. 

 Proboscis large and powerful, lacking jaws or jaws rudimentary. 

 Usually found in mud. 



Key to the New England Genera of Aphroditidae 



1. Dorsal feltage loose, more or less developed, usually not covering elytra com- 

 pletely (may be absent). Large dark notosctae with tips barbed (harpoon 

 shaped, fig. Ic). Neurosetae with unilateral fringe and a basal spur (fig. 

 Id). Prostomium with ocular peduncles, with or without pigment or 

 eyes (fig. la) Laetmonice 



Dorsal feltage a thick tangled matting completely covering the elytra (fig. 

 2,a-b). Large dark notosetae without barbed tips. Neurosetae pointed 

 to slightly hooked, without unilateral fringe or basal spur. Prostomium 

 without ocular peduncles; eyes, when present, sessile (fig. 2c) . Aphrodita 



Genus Laetmonice Kinberg, 1855 



Type (monotypy) : Laetmonice filicornis Kinberg, 1855. Contains 

 only one New England species. 



Laetmonice jiUcomis Kinberg, 1855 



Figure 1 



Laeimatonice armata Verrill, 1879, p. 168; 1881, pp. 297, 303, 307, 311, 319, 320, 

 pi. 6, fig. 6, a, 6.— Webster and Benedict, 1887, p. 708.— Miner, 1950, p. 308, 

 pi. 100. 



569-457—63 2 



